U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Pope Francis met at the Vatican on Easter Sunday, shortly before the pontiff delivered a sermon urging political leaders to support vulnerable populations.

The meeting, announced by Vance’s office, marked the first between a U.S. vice president and the pope since 2020, during President Donald Trump’s first term. Vance, a recent Catholic convert who was baptized in 2019, has spent several days in Rome for a stretch of work-and-play outings with his wife Usha and three young children.

A video posted by the U.S.-based Catholic news network EWTN showed Vance speaking with Pope Francis, who was sitting in a wheelchair. The pontiff presented the U.S. vice president with a Vatican tie, rosary beads, and Easter eggs for each of Vance’s children.

“I know you’ve not been feeling great, but it’s good to see you in better health,” Vance told the Catholic leader, who was discharged from a five-week hospital stay last month after battling life-threatening pneumonia. “Thank you for seeing me.”

Vance was inside the Vatican for about 20 minutes on Sunday. The second family later attended Easter Mass at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls.

Vance’s return to Vatican City followed a more extended visit on Saturday, during which the Holy See said there had been an “exchange of opinions” on a number of issues, including migrants, refugees and prisoners, with church officials.

The Vatican had described Saturday’s meeting as “cordial,” though a readout from the vice president’s office made no mention of immigration matters.

After meeting with Vance, Pope Francis was wheeled to the Papal balcony overlooking Saint Peter’s Square, where he delivered a short blessing to the large crowd gathered below.

At that point, Archbishop Diego Ravelli read aloud the pope’s Easter message, known as “Urbi et Orbi,” which focused on the plight of the less fortunate.

“How much contempt is stirred up at times towards the vulnerable, the marginalized and migrants,” Ravelli read. “I appeal to all those in positions of political responsibility in our world not to yield to the logic of fear, which only leads to isolation from others, but rather to use the resources available to help the needy, to fight hunger, and to encourage initiatives that promote development.”

Pope Francis, 88, is the spiritual guide of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide. Earlier this year, he criticized the Trump administration’s stance on migrants and forced deportations. Vance responded by praising the Pope but saying he would stand by his views.

Vance also met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and other top officials while in Rome, and is due to leave for India later on Sunday.

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